We’ve already looked at the Indians top performers in the ALDS and ALCS, but those are both relatively recent creations (1995 and 1069 respectively) and not the ultimate stage. This time, we’ll look at the biggest performances in Indians history at the biggest possible moments. The whole purpose of every season is to get to the World Series and, while the Indians have only been five times (1920, 1948, 1954, 1995 and 1997) and won twice, there have been some pretty incredible accomplishments.
10. Elmer Smith – 1920 vs Brooklyn
The World Series started in 1903 (skipping 1904) and was originally a best of seven series, but from 1919 through 1921 it switched to a best of nine and the Indians utterly dominated the Robins in 1920, five games to two. The outfielder, Smith played in just five of those games, but knocked in four runs with a .308/.357/.692 line including a triple and home run. There were only two home runs hit in total by both teams in the entire series and both came in an 8-1 game five win, the first being a grand slam by Smith in the first inning, the first grand slam in the history of the World Series. The other home run was hit by pitcher Jim Bagby, Sr. the first home run by a pitcher in the World Series. Coincidentally, this was also the game that featured the only unassisted triple play in World Series history, pulled off by Bill Wambsganss at second base.
9. Orel Hershiser – 1995 vs Atlanta
The Indians lost the 1995 World Series in six games, but one man who deserves no blame for that was Hershiser. Featured in the top 10 of all three lists, he started game one and allowed three runs in six innings and took the loss as he was outpitched by the Hall of Famer, Greg Maddux. He still pitched well in this game, allowing just three hits and striking out seven, but he was even better the next time out. In game five, he extended to eight innings and allowed just two runs, one earned, lowering his ERA for the entire play-offs to 1.53. This time, the Indians were able to score four runs off Maddux and Hershiser earned the win, his fourth in the post-season. Given that this was the Indians first elimination game since 1954, Hershiser’s pitching performance in this game may have been the most clutch in team history. This was at least until the next man on this list, two years later.
8. Chad Ogea – 1997 vs Florida
The Indians won every even numbered game in the 1997 series (unfortunately there were more odd numbered games) and it might not have been a coincidence considering that Ogea pitched games two and four. In game two, he matched up with six time All-Star Kevin Brown, but had the better night going 6.2 innings and allowing just one run. He only struck out four and allowed 7 hits, but kept the Marlins down so the Indians could take their first victory of the series. He would repeat this performance in game six, with the Tribe winning a potential elimination game. Ogea went five innings and allowed one run, again outpitching Brown, who allowed four. In addition, Ogea produced more offensively than his opponents against him, with a two RBI second inning single, then scoring a run after leading off the fifth inning with a double.
7. Matt Williams – 1997 vs Florida
One of the best offensive performances in any round, Williams batted .385 while playing in all seven games against the Marlins. Normally known as a run producer and batting fifth, Williams ended up being more of a table setter, walking seven times in addition to his ten hits and scoring eight runs. He did hit one home run and one double as well, but with the top of the line-up not hitting, his greatest value in the 1997 World Series was getting on base (.515 OBP) for another batter further down in the line-up, but higher up on this list.
6. Gene Bearden – 1948 vs Boston
The Indians had a well established pitching staff in 1948 with the veteran Bob Feller and the young Bob Lemon leading the way, but the rookie Bearden had an incredible season and lead the AL in ERA, earning him a starting spot in the World Series against the Braves. He started game three behind Feller and Lemon and did nothing, but pitch a complete game shut out in his first post-season appearance. He allowed just five hits and walked none while striking out four. In fact, he never had an inning that lasted longer than four batters. He pitched well enough that when game six came around, there was no man Lou Boudreau would prefer to go to and he came in for the eighth, relieving Lemon with bases loaded, up by three runs. While he did allow two to score on a sac fly and a double, Bearden finished the inning with the lead intact and finished the game to earn a save and clinch the Indians second and most recent World Series title. Because the two runners belonged to Lemon, Bearden finished with a perfect 0.00 ERA and 1-0 record with one save in one opportunity.
5. Vic Wertz – 1954 vs New York
In general, the 1954 series against Willie Mays and the Giants was an embarrassment for Cleveland as the most winning team in baseball history was swept in the World Series. Hall of Famer Bob Lemon was terrible in two starts, another Hall of Fame pitcher Early Wynn was just ok and the third Hall of Famer, Bob Feller, didn’t even pitch. Offensively, the Indians scored just seven runs in four games and three of those came on a pinch hit, three run Hank Majeski home run in the game four 7-4 loss. There was one hitter with a respectable series and he was remembered only for flying out to Mays in game one on a play still known as “the catch.” Even though he was unable to get that RBI double that would have won game one, he still hit .500 for the series with a home run, triple and two doubles, knocking in three and scoring twice. Taking away Wertz, the Indians batted .149 and scored just five runs in four games.
4. Bob Lemon – 1948 vs Boston
Feller was the star pitcher for the 1948 Indians, but after he lost game one and game five, Lemon was always right behind him to pick up the slack. In his first appearance an unearned run scored in the first thanks to an error by Hall of Famer Joe Gordon at second, allowing future Indians manager Al Dark to reach safely, but Lemon wouldn’t allow another runner to cross the plate and the Indians would take the lead in the fourth for the duration. He scattered eight hits, but didn’t allow a runner to even reach third after the fourth inning. He was tabbed for game five too after Boudreau had decided on Steve Gromek for game four rather than push Feller on short rest (a great decision in retrospect) and this allowed Lemon to match up with Bill Voiselle rather than Warren Spahn as he had the first time. Officially, Lemon allowed three runs, but as already mentioned, two of those came off Bearden in the eighth. Before that, he pitched seven innings and allowed just one run to score and even with those runs he finished the World Series with a 1.65 ERA in 16.1 innings.
3. Sandy Alomar – 1997 vs Florida
There is absolutely no question who had the greatest offensive performance in Indians history and this was just an extenuation of what may have been the best offensive season by a catcher in Indians history. Alomar became the first hitter ever to hit a home run in the All-Star game and every round of the play-offs when he went deep in game two (Barry Bonds later matched this feat) and he added another in game five (the lead picture is of Alomar’s game two home run). In all, he batted .367/.406/.600, fairly consistent numbers to his in the regular season. What he did in the post-season that he didn’t do prior was knock in runs at a high rate and his 10 RBI are an Indians single series post-season record (tied by Jim Thome in the 1999 ALDS).
2. Duster Mails – 1920 vs Brooklyn
While the most remembered game of the 1920 series was the already mentioned game five, the rest of the series was completely dominated by pitching. In all, the Indians allowed just eight runs in five games and the rookie starter Mails was a huge part of that. Mails had joined the team late in the season and wasn’t part of the rotation at the beginning of the rotation, coming in to game three as a reliever for Ray Caldwell was removed after retiring just one batter and allowing two runs to score. Mails then pitched 6.2 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits in the Indians second loss of the series. The second time around, manager Tris Speaker chose to go to Mails from the beginning of game six and he pitched a complete game shut out, striking out four and allowing just five base runners (three hits) in nine innings. Sherry Smith, who would later become an Indian himself, pitched a complete game for Brooklyn as well, but was the tough luck loser thanks to a sixth inning George Burns RBI double.
1. Stan Coveleski – 1920 vs Brooklyn
Coveleski is a well deserving Hall of Famer and his brightest moment came in the 1920 World Series. He pitched game one and allowed just one run in a complete game win, allowing just five hits. He came back on short rest to pitch game four and threw another complete game, again allowing one run in a 5-1 win. Despite having a great rotation, Coveleski came back again on short rest to pitch game seven and this was his masterpiece. He only struck out one, but didn’t walk a batter and allowed just five hits in a complete game shut out, his third win of the Indians five in the World Series. Possibly the most impressive fact that is in these three games, Coveleski scored as many runs, two, as he allowed. He finished with a 0.67 ERA in 27 innings, striking out eight and allowing just 18 hits and two walks.
Borderline: Albert Belle (1995), Tris Speaker (1920), Steve Gromek (1948), Jim Thome (1997), Jaret Wright (1997)
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